Cow-tail holder.



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JAMES D. SIIURGFS, OF BUFFALO, MINNESOTA.

COW-TAIL HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,937, dated September 30, 1902.

Application led March 31,190Z. Serial No. 100,689. (No model.)

T all whom t may concern/tf Beit known that I, JAMES D. STURGES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Wright and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful l Improvements inOow-Tail Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and eiicient device for holding a cows tail while milking; and to this end'it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, ofthe complete device. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the pincers or clamping devices; and Fig. 4 is a plan view with some parts broken away, illustrating a slightlymodied construction.

The numeral l indicates as an entirety a pair of pincers or clamping device which is adapted for application to the cows tail, and the numeral 2 indicates as an entirety a pair of pincers or clamping device which is adapted for application to any suitable part of the gar-A ments Worn by the milker. Both of the said pincers are formed by pivotally-connected members having clamping-jaws and levers or handpieces. The pincers 1 are formed with clamping-jaws, which are bent, as shown at 3, so as to embrace and closely'rt the cows tail. The ends of the jaws 3 project outward and are provided with reversely-interlapping teeth or brads 4, whichare adapted to pass between the hairs of the bush of the cows tail. The jaws 3 are yieldingly pressed toward each other by a leaf-spring 5, shown as riveted at one end to one of the levers of said pincers 1 and pressing against the other lever thereof. The clamping-jaws of the pincers 2 are provided with intermeshing serrations or teeth G, which are adapted to bite upon the garment under the pressure from the leaf-spring 7, shown as riveted at one end to one lever of said incers 2 and reactin(Y a ainst theother lever thereof.

In the best form ofthe device a coiled spring 8 connects one lever of the pincers 1 with one lever of the pincers 2. As illustrated in Fig. 4, however, the said levers are connected by a chain 9.

The use of the device will .be as follows: The jaws 3 of the pincers l are clam ped around the bush of the cows tail, and the teeth or brads 4, engaging the loose hairs of the bush, prevent the pincers from sliding downward on the cows tail. When the coWs tail has no bush, the jaws 3 must of course be applied to the tail so as to firmly clamp the same and hold the pincers in place by friction. The serrated jaws 6 of the pincers 7 may be applied to any suitable portion of the garment of the niilker and would usually be applied in the vicinity of the'knee. When once applied, they may be left clamped in working position, so that in moving from one cow to the other it will only be necessary to detach the pincers l from the one cows tail and apply the same to the tail of the cow next to be milked. This, as is evident, may be quickly done, and at the same time the device cannot be lost or displaced,` as it is still connected to the garment by the pincers 2. The spring 8 and the chain 9 are long enough to permit the coW to move her tail slightly, but will prevent the tail from being thrown into the milkers face or into the milk-pail or into position to throw dirt into the milk-pail.

The spring S, used as a flexible connection to connect the pincers 1 and 2, is an important improvement over lthe chain 9'for the following reasons, to wit: Some cows and almost all heifers when they discover that their tail has been securely fastened will become irritated and will frequently make vigorous attempts to release the tail, often to the extent ofjumping around. The said spring by virtue of its length and flexibility not only permits a limited movement of the coWs tail, but will yield when the cows tail is suddenly thrown to one side, and while it will limit the movements of the said tail will not bring the tail to a stop with a sudden jerk. In fact when the spring is used the cow or heifer will hardly realize that its tail has been fastened.

By practical use of the device above described I have demonstrated its efficiency. The device is of small cost, and, as already IOO indicated, it may be very easily and quickly applied to the cows tail and removed therefrom and when temporarily out of use may be left hanging to the milkers garment, where it will require no attention, but will be always available when wanted.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. A cow-tail holder involving a pair of pincers and a flexible connection attached to the same, which pincers have the curved jaws 3 with radial extensions or ends equipped with teeth 4, which jaws 3 are adapted to embrace the oows tail, and which teeth 4 are adapted to pass through the bush of the tail, substantially as described.

2. In a cow-tai1holder,the combination with the pincers l and 2, of the coil-spring 8 connecting said pincers, the pincers l being provided with the curved jaws 3 having the extended radial ends equipped with the interlapping teeth 4, and said pincers l being provided with the spring 5, and said pincers 2 being provided with the serrated jaws 6 and havingr the spring 7, with all of said parts arranged to cooperate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. STURGES.

Witnesses:

E. I-I. KELIHER, F. D. MERCHANT. 

